Last update: Oct. 3, 2022
Legal online sports betting in Ontario is live.
On April 4, 13 sportsbook apps got approval to launch in the province including BetMGM, Caesars, theScore Bet, BetRivers, FanDuel, and PointsBet. DraftKings, one of the largest US sportsbooks, launched in Ontario May 18.
The legacy app is the provincial lottery’s ProLine+ app, and it is still available for play.
Here is the latest about everything happening with sports betting in Ontario, including information about future online sportsbooks, how to place a bet and what is legal in the province.
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What’s happening in ON sports betting right now
- October 3, 2022 — Bally Bet and Betsafe were approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario during the last week of September. The two sportsbooks join a few others waiting for iGO approval to launch, including Pinnacle.
- September 19, 2022 — Mohegan Digital launched the Fallsview Casino-brand sportsbook and iCasino app. Partners to power the online operations include Kambi, Pala Interactive and Intellitics.
- September 7, 2022 — Pinnacle received approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario for an Ontario sports betting license. The sportsbook prides itself on its low-margin prices.
- September 1, 2022 — The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario approved Bet99 as an online gaming operator in Ontario. Bet99 was a gray market operator in the province.
- August 30, 2022 — iGaming Ontario released its first market performance report looking at Q2 2022. Ontario online gaming operators took CAD$4.1 billion in wagers and generated CAD$162 million in revenue.
- August 25, 2022 — Unibet was served with a CAD$48,000 fine by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. It is the fourth such penalty dished out by the AGCO for breaches of its advertising restrictions.
- August 23, 2022 — William Hill announced it suspended Ontario sports betting operations to make the switch to the regulated Ontario market. The brand is owned outside of the US by 888.
- August 12, 2022 — A variety of sportsbook operator earnings reports were released the previous two weeks, but they revealed little about Ontario sports betting. PointsBet was the most revealing, announcing a handle of $11.2 million during the quarter.
- August 9, 2022 — BetMGM announced a partnership with NFL Canada as an official sportsbook partner. The NFL also has Canada deals with FanDuel and ProLine+.
- August 4, 2022 — Penn National (which changed its name to Penn Entertainment) reported its second-quarter earnings, including a peek at theScore‘s performance in Ontario. While no specific revenue numbers were shared, the company said 67% of bettors are also theScore media app users.
- August 1, 2022 — Betway officially launches its sportsbook in Ontario. The sportsbook is one of several gray market sportsbooks to successfully switch over to the regulated provincial market in Canada.
- July 28, 2022 — The industry got the first glimpse inside Ontario sports betting during PointsBets Q4 earnings call. The operator took more than $11 million in bets during the quarter, but without other figures, little can be drawn from the data.
- July 25, 2022 — Penn National Gaming announced the successful migration of theScore Bet to its in-house risk and trading platform. Penn plans to use the same tech for its Barstool Sportsbook by Q3 2023.
- July 19, 2022 — PointsBet announced a partnership with the new curling team Team Bottcher. PointsBet also is a partner of Curling Canada.
- July 12, 2022 — The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has registered Bally Bet as a sportsbook operator in Ontario. The sportsbook will be the 16th sports betting operator in the province.
- July 1, 2022 — FanDuel announced it expanded its partnership with the NFL to include Ontario. The sportsbook operator also is partners with TSN, the broadcast partner of NFL Canada.
- June 30, 2022 — The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario fined DraftKings CAN$100,000. It is the third penalty doled out by the AGCO for operators breaching the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.
- June 22, 2022 — The National Basketball Association and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. announced a partnership making ProLine+ an official sportsbook of the NBA ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft. The NBA joins the other three big four leagues with OLG partnerships.
- June 16, 2022 — The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and Major League Baseball announced a new partnership between the two organizations. OLG’s ProLine+ is the first official Canadian sportsbook partner for MLB. Both the NFL and NHL entered the realm of Ontario sportsbook partnerships the same way.
- June 13, 2022 — PointsBet Canada announced a partnership with ClubLink, an owner of Ontario golf courses. GolfLink hosts more than 1 million rounds of golf annually in the province.
- June 8, 2022 — BetMGM recorded 70 million transactions in Ontario during May, according to CEO Adam Greenblatt. It was the second month of operation in Ontario for BetMGM, but iGaming Ontario has yet to release official operator revenue data since the April 4 provincial launch.
- June 1, 2022 — TheScore announced it will exit US sports betting with its theScore Bet app and focus on Canada. In turn, Penn National will use Barstool Sportsbook to focus on US markets.
Is sports betting legal in Ontario?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Ontario. People may wager through a number of online sportsbooks including BetMGM, Caesars and BetRivers after the province expanded its sports betting market to include outside apps. Betting is also legal via the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.’s many retail outlets throughout the province. In addition, online sports betting is live through ProLine Plus.
Comparing sportsbook apps in Ontario
The list of available sportsbook apps in Ontario is in a state of evolution right now. For many months, the only legal option for Ontarians was ProLine+. However, since April 2022, several major sportsbook apps have been open for business in the province. Here’s a look at the apps available to Ontarians right now:
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM Sportsbook Ontario is live and available in the province. The app is one of the biggest and deepest online sportsbooks operating today. There are more options for wagering than you’ll find on most sites. In addition, the Edit My Bet feature allows players to adjust their open wagers by raising the amount of the bet, adding legs to an existing parlay or swapping out teams in the wager.
- App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.1 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A customizable app with a long list of sports and bets.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook Ontario is live and available for play in the province. Caesars is a big name that is making a strong push. While the app itself is not the easiest to use, Caesars makes up for it with a strong selection of prop bets. As a result, you’d be hard-pressed to find an app with more betting options.
- App rating: 4.6 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Look for an expansive list of sports.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook Ontario is live and available in the province. It offers perhaps the easiest app to use. A simple interface with clear-cut navigation makes it a top choice for many bettors. FanDuel also offers same-game parlay options. However, customer support can sometimes be slow to respond to issues. FanDuel was granted AGCO licensing in March.
- App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
- Key takeaway: The easiest app to use in terms of structure and navigability.
TheScore Bet
TheScore Bet is one of the few commercial sportsbooks that is a truly Ontarian brand, and it launched on April 4. It has an easy-to-use app with the ability to book bets of almost any type, including most pregame and live wagers. However, theScore Bet is still a work in progress in offering a diverse lineup of sports for betting. It was one of the first apps to receive conditional approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
- App rating: 4.7 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A local sportsbook with a smooth app and familiar name.
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers Sportsbook Ontario is live. The app offers a separate layer of alternate bets and wagers, including a string of proposition wagers accessible through each game listing. However, the app itself is a bit clunky and tough to navigate. BetRivers received approval from the AGCO in March.
- App rating: 1.8 to 3.6 (iOS), 3.4 to 3.6 (Android)
- Key takeaway: The app is a work in progress, but the bets are top-notch.
PointsBet Sportsbook
PointsBet Sportsbook Ontario launched on April 4. You can find the usual slate of bets, plus a relatively simple app. The app itself is functional; it just lacks a few features. AGCO granted PointsBet approval in February.
- App rating: 4.7 (iOS), 4.6 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A functional app with a focus on odds.
Unibet
Unibet Sportsbook is live in Ontario. Unibet is a familiar name for sports bettors in Europe, but is still finding its speed in North America. However, it has plenty of experience to offer Ontarians and visitors to the province. Of particular note, Unibet has a plentiful lineup of in-play wagering options available during most days. Unibet received its license in March 2022.
- App rating: 1.8 – 3.6 (iOS), 3.5 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Unibet has an good selection of available in-play wagers.
888Sport
888Sport includes several features worthy of Ontario sports bettors’ attention. For one thing, 888 has a recommendation page with an updating list of suggested wagers customized for each bettor. You can also find some ideas for betting through 888Sport’s BetFeed, which displays popular wagers on a rolling basis. 888Sport became able to operate in the legal market thanks to its licensing in March 2022.
- App rating: 4.4 (iOS), 4.3 (Android)
- Key takeaway: 888Sport is an innovative option for most bettors.
Bet365
Bet365 is an international sportsbook app and is off and running in Ontario’s legal market after operating for years in the gray. Bet365 has an incredible selection of in-play wagers running during most of the hours of the day. There is also a large list of sports on offer, including many sports that are rarer or harder to find in Canada. The book allows bettors to adjust their open wagers through the Edit Bet feature.
- App rating: 4.3 (iOS), 3.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Bet365 has a deep list of rare sports markets and usually offers live wagers on these events.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings is one of the top sportsbook apps in North America and offers plenty of advantages. For starters, its betting carousel means that you’ll always have some ideas for bets that you can make. DraftKings Sportsbook Ontario also has a betting pool function, but it has its quirks when you search for a particular bet or game.
- App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.6 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A sleek, fast-moving app great for live betting.
Latest Ontario sports betting news
Does Pinnacle Ontario Sports Betting License Foreshadow US Plans?
A former black-market sportsbook in the United States is ready to wade into the regulated Ontario sports betting market. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario approved globally known Pinnacle for an ON sports betting license last week. The sportsbook still needs to sign an agreement with iGaming Ontario prior to launching. Based in Curacao, Pinnacle has operated […] Read More
Ontario Online Gambling Numbers Finally Here: $162 Million In Revenue in Q2
Ontario regulators provided its first online gambling market report, which includes sports betting, from the second quarter of 2022. Read More
Sports Interaction Gets Ontario Sports Betting License, Goes Live In Regulated Market
Despite early indications that it might remain outside the regulated Ontario sports betting market, Sports Interaction is making the switch. Read MoreHow to get started at an ON sportsbook app
For those who’ve never bet on sports online or have only used ProLine so far, most major sportsbook apps have similar procedures for new players. Creating an account should take only a few minutes, but be prepared to provide additional documents to verify your identity if necessary. For the most part, here’s what to do:
- Download and install the app.
- Register for an account.
- Make your first deposit.
- Place your first wager.
Whenever you decide to make your first deposit, you’ll find several options available to you. Electronic checks, credit cards, debit cards and PayPal will generally all work to fund your account, depending on the book.
What you can bet on legally
The rules are mostly permissive about any wagerable event so long as “the bet is not reasonably objectionable.” Provincial regulators will likely provide more clarity about what’s legal and illegal as things progress.
Esports is legal to bet on as sporting events, but virtual sports count as online casino games under the regulatory guidelines.
Most of the rules deal with the integrity of the people placing and accepting the bets, though. Pointedly, cryptocurrency is not legal tender for sports bets.
Legal gambling in Ontario
Ontarians have had some legal gambling options for decades. The addition of commercial online gambling sites is a welcome expansion, but there are also plenty of gambling locations and venues in the province. Here are some of the options for Ontario residents:
| Casinos | Ontario is home to 29 casinos, including seven in the Toronto area. Venues offer slot machines, table games, bingo and poker in varying degrees. |
| Live poker | Poker is available at select casino locations including Casino Niagara. |
| Lottery | Draw and instant win games are available through official retailers, and draw games are available via online subscriptions. |
| Online casinos | Slots, table games and live dealer games are available through OLG.ca. |
| Sports betting | Sports betting is available through OLG’s ProLine+, via both online and retail lottery outlets. |
| Horse racing | Ontario is home to three live racetracks and several off-track betting locations, each of which offer pari-mutuel wagering on domestic and international races. Ontarians also have options for online horse betting. |
| Bingo | There are dozens of bingo halls in Ontario, and most offer games the majority of weekdays and weekends. |
| Fantasy sports | DraftKings and FanDuel operate legally in Ontario. |
Ontario vs. Pennsylvania and Michigan sports betting
Ontario is clearly the crown jewel for sportsbooks seeking to enter the market in Canada. The province is the country’s largest by population, with an estimated 14.8 million residents. That would make it the fifth-most-populous US state, ranking above Pennsylvania’s 13 million residents. Only California, Texas, Florida and New York have more residents.
Pennsylvania sports betting is one of the breakout stars in terms of US sports betting success. It ranks third by handle ($12 billion) and revenue ($943 million) behind New Jersey and Nevada since the fall of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018.
Ontario also shares a border with Michigan. Michigan sportsbook apps launched in January 2021, and with Detroit only a stone’s throw away from Toronto, the new market likely did not go unnoticed.
Pennsylvania and Michigan represent a study in contrasts about the way that regulators can approach fees and taxation. Michigan set its license fee at $100,000, and it taxes sports betting at 8.4% (with an additional 1.25% for Detroit). Each Michigan sportsbook has to pay $50,000 to the state each year. Pennsylvania, on the other hand, requires applicants to pay a $10 million fee and 36% of their revenue as taxes. However, the fee is a one-time charge, and there’s no annual fee.
Ontario, for its part, has landed in the middle between these two approaches. Ontario sportsbooks must pay $100,000 annually as a regulatory fee, which is more in line with Michigan’s approach. However, Ontario will likely charge a 20% tax rate to sportsbooks, which is much higher than what Michigan books have to pay, though still less than in Pennsylvania.
Where to bet on sports in Ontario
With online sports betting, you can bet from almost anywhere in Ontario. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. has a number of retail locations scattered throughout the province, as well. Sports betting options are part of the physical lottery offerings, and you can make your selections there.
Additionally, casinos in Ontario could have their own sportsbooks in the future, though nothing is for certain. Casino companies would need to source sportsbook partners, and none have done so yet. Here are some of the most likely candidates and the largest casinos in Ontario:
- Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Drive East, Windsor
- Casino Niagara, 5705 Falls Ave., Niagara Falls
- Casino Woodbine, 555 Rexdale Blvd., Etobicoke
- Gateway Casinos Sault Ste. Marie, 30 Bay St., Sault Ste. Marie
- Pickering Casino Resort, 888 Durham Live Ave., Pickering
Most popular sports to bet on in Ontario
There are five professional sports teams in Ontario that should draw plenty of betting attention from residents.
It should not surprise anyone that Ontario has two NHL franchises. Canada’s obsession with hockey runs deep, as does Ontario’s ties with its two teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators should see plenty of single-game betting action should C-218 pass.
Also plenty popular are the Toronto Raptors, who took home the NBA championship in 2019. MLB‘s Toronto Blue Jays and MLS‘ Toronto FC also have loyal fan bases which could turn into loyal bettors.
NFL and CFL betting
There’s also no denying the popularity of football throughout Ontario and the rest of Canada. The Canadian Football League canceled its 2020 season but plans to return in 2021, meaning a return to the field for the three Ontario-based teams: the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Ottawa Redblacks, and the Toronto Argonauts.
But there’s also plenty of enthusiasm for the NFL and the Super Bowl, especially the Buffalo Bills. Given the Bills’ recent turnaround, the team could become the most-heavily bet in Ontario if single-game betting is legalized.
Ontario sports betting timeline
2022: At the end of January, iGaming Ontario announces it anticipates a launch of online sports betting on April 4. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has approved online operators throughout early 2022. As planned, Ontario becomes the first province in Canada to open its borders to commercial sportsbooks. The April 4 launch date included BetMGM and Caesars, with an expectation for more than two dozen apps in the province.
2021: Single-game sports betting is here with C-218 all the way through the parliament. The bill received full House approval in April and the Senate in June 2021. Individual provinces will handle the regulations, with an effective date of Aug. 27 — when many provincial lotteries expanded their product offerings. Ontario moves forward with draft regulations to govern an open market with PointsBet, BetRivers, DraftKings and other sports betting sites gearing up for launch in the province. Launch dates are still a moving target.
2020: Private member Kevin Waugh introduced C-218 in February, but there was very little action that year. The bill didn’t get its second reading until nearly a year later in February 2021.
One notable development in 2020 came in June when multiple professional leagues jointly issued their support of single-game betting in Canada.
2016: The second attempt to legalize single-game sports betting last decade in Canada fails.
2012: The first attempt to legalize Canadian single-game sports betting last decade passed the House, but it would go no further. The Senate failed to act on the legislation for years.
2011: C-290 is introduced by Joe Comartin. It’s the first attempt of the decade to end the federal ban on single-game sports betting in Canada.
1992: ProLine officially launches in Ontario in October.
Ontario sports betting FAQ
Who can bet on sports in Ontario?
You need to be 19 or older and inside provincial borders to bet on sports online in Ontario. Sportsbooks will check the location requirement through geolocation verification software. The software will require you to verify your location through your device’s GPS or through a program that you download to your phone or computer. Either way, you won’t be able to play until you confirm that you are within Ontario.
Am I able to use my phone to bet in Ontario?
Yes. ProLine+ is already online in Ontario and accepting wagers. Moreover, a number of sportsbook apps are set to debut if they haven’t already in the province starting in April 2022. Your phone will work for sports betting anywhere you can get a Wi-Fi signal.
Who oversees Ontario sports betting?
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is the regulator for the Ontario sports betting industry.
Where can I place a bet in Ontario?
Sports bettors can place bets online or through lottery retailers. Commercial sportsbooks launched in April 2022.
Can you play daily fantasy sports in Ontario?
Yes. Daily fantasy sports contests are legal to play in Ontario. However, top companies like DraftKings and FanDuel ended operations in the province ahead of the online sports betting launch on April 4.
Will online casinos launch with online sports betting in Ontario?
Yes. Ontario already has an online casino option through the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission (OLG.ca). However, the province wants an open commercial operator market that includes additional online casinos as well as online poker.